We also noted that JPL engineer Aaron Parness and colleagues have used that concept to create a material made of synthetic hairs much thinner than a human hair. They hope to use the material to develop a gecko-inspired gripping technology to manipulate objects in space. A four-minute video, Crazy Engineering: Gecko Gripper, highlights some of their work—as well as some charming geckos.

In addition, JPL recently posted an artist’s conception of a project in progress—a creation called LEMUR (Limbed Excursion Mechanical Utility Robot) that might one day use Parness’s technology to inspect and maintain installations on the International Space Station.